Search for Significance

"What is a woman?" "I would simply tell you, 'ask the God who made her.' Jackie Hill Perry Why is culture working so hard to erase differences between Male and Female? It’s no shock to anyone that our culture is really struggling. Culture & feminism has brought us to a bizarre point where we cannot even define a woman - how confusing is that? The feminist movement began for the protection and advocacy of woman in society to ensure they were given equal rights, like education opportunities, voting rights, etc. and were overall treated equally and protected. Feminism has done a lot of good over the years. But, today's feminism seems to have progressed to an odd place in society where they have blurred lines on the area of what a woman is and are unwilling to acknowledge the humanness of the unborn. Sadly, we are living in a day and age where culture wants to erase the unique and beautiful differences between male and female. In the book of Genesis 1:27 we are told that, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Now I realize we live in a day and age that most do not see life from a Christian point of view. We live in a very diversified culture and very secular culture. Being a secular society means, it does not hold to a religious world view where values, ideas, beliefs, come from. So when Christians try to have conversations about biblical truths, like what does God define a woman to be, and when we use the bible to defend certain beliefs – the truth of the bible is irrelevant to the person opposing the Christian since they don’t hold to a biblical world view and they don’t believe God’s word to be true. When thinking about this topic, the movie “Pinocchio" came to mind and its theme song - When You Wish Upon a Star. "When you wish upon a star / Makes no difference who you are / Anything your heart desires / Will come to you…If your heart is in your dream / No request is too extreme / When you wish upon a star / As dreamers do…” Why did and Jiminy Cricket sing this song to Pinocchio? Because he was not happy that he was a wooden boy and was not content in how he was made and wanted to become something different than what his creator made him to be. If you can remember the story of Pinocchio, he finds himself in all sorts of trouble after trusting the wrong voices in his life outside of his creator. Just like we see today - there are many voices out there today telling us what we should believe based on all sorts of reasons and feelings. This movie has a way of touching our hearts because we can relate in his struggle with our own identity. We all struggle to some point with how we were made. Maybe its our physical appearance, maybe its our intelligence level, or athletic, musical, or artistic level, whatever - all of us struggle with how we were made and there are many voices that do not help. Like our peers. social media, even our parents/coaches/teachers, can cause us to not like ourselves and cause us to feel less than. We are bombarded with 24 hr. access to social media passively yet aggressively influencing our minds and emotions. Don't get me wrong, our thoughts and feelings are very real – and have real effects on how we see, think and feel about ourselves – sadly. With constant pressure to BE the BEST – not simply Do Your best – we find ourselves constantly trying to mold ourselves into someone else to meet other’s standards and ideals - The message that “we can be anything our heart desires” is lie and is causing even greater damage to us – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically – And we are absolutely seeing the effect this is having on your generation with the high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and confusion of who they are.   Another song came to mind as I was considering this study on becoming a Godly woman, "I AM WOMAN," by Emmy Meli. Do you know the lyrics to the chorus? “I am woman, I am fearless, I am sexy, I’m divine, I’m unbeatable, I’m creative, Honey, you can get in line, I am feminine, I am masculine, I am anything I want” How do you feel about this song?  Does it make you feel important? Does it make you feel empowered? Sure its a catchy tune - but what is the real message of this song? Would you say you know girls who think like this? If so, do they seem happy, at peace and content? Or ... I would say most women I know who affirm this version of "womanhood" are not at peace and are not happy on the inside. "I am masculine?" Why - why do you as a woman want to be masculine? -          God affirms that we are beautiful and are created just as He intended us to be. -          We hold great worth to Him and for this world in which we live.   Let’s go back to the original question: “Why is culture working so hard to erase differences between Male and Female?” Is it culture? Or someone else? ·       Ephesians 6:10-17, “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Do you see that? Where this all began? We first see the works of the devil in the Garden of Eden, where Satan deceived Eve and led her into disobedience Genesis 3:1–6. "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." This act of disobedience caused Adam to sin, thus throwing the all of humanity into the bondage of sin. Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—" Satan lied to Eve with the goal of destroying her and separating her from God; he wanted (and still wants) to destroy God’s creation of all humanity. Since Satan hates God, his life is to undermine all that God is -  

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..." Galatians 5:22,23 Today we close with - Self Control. As we have been taking a look at the the fruit of the Spirit, I pray you are learning that it is the working of the Holy Spirit in us that brings about change in our heart, mind, spirit and in our over all character. Philippians 2:13 says that "it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." If we are honest, we all know we struggle with self-control. I know some who read this will say, "I love to care for others, or I am patient." It would be arrogant for me to say that only Christians can be moral, kind and loving. So then why do we need the Holy Spirit and His fruit if I can be good on my own? If left to ourselves with no God - than love is subjective, kindness is subjective, and self-control is only something that is felt and can be displayed or put into practice "if" we choose to use it. If left to God, than love is objective and is grounded in something or Someone who is the substance of goodness and morality that is the standard and is unchanging. What do I mean by this? If God does not exist than moral goodness is based on whatever you are feeling in the moment or what culture may say at that time. At one time it was thought to be good and ok to do away with an entire people group of Jews. If God does exist than morality and goodness comes from a Being - The God of Christianity, "maker of heaven and earth"- who is the source of those attributes, love, joy, peace, patience, etc. is not based on condition, culture, or feelings. They are based on a foundation of truth that there is a God who is source of morality and the Holy Spirit, who is a part of the Godhead, is the life source who enables us as followers of Jesus to live a life that pleases the Lord and empowers us to love with His love when it's hard, to treat others with His kindness when we don't feel like it, and help us to control our thoughts, words, actions and emotions since we are not naturally inclined to display self-control easily. As anyone reading this knows, holding back strong emotions can be challenging if not impossible when faced with irritation, deep hurt, and anger. Often times when we are holding these emotions, we can feel justified, and can even be justified in feeling those emotions based on what things have occurred in your life. But how we handle those emotions will have a great impact on your life as well as those around you depending on what you do with them. Emotions can be like a match - once struck it ignites and flares up instantly - and if applied can start a fire that can bring great destruction to everything and everyone in its reach and beyond. Self-control is crucial in living not only a moral life, but a Christ honoring life. Let's take a quick look at James 3 and the example of "Taming the Tongue." "We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.  3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." Let's read that last part again... "the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." See how beautiful God's reasoning is for why we must turn to Him for help - His desire and ability to help grow in us His character of self-control is so wise and good. Self-control when applied, can bring peace. When reading James we can see and feel the destructive impact that can come when our emotions, thoughts and words are not reined in and we are left to our own emotions and desires. The Holy Spirit is the bit and reins that helps us navigate and rein in our emotions and sinful desires when tempted. Self-control is not just about emotions and temper, self-control applies to many areas of our lives like being tempted as well. Romans 7 tells us about a waging war happening within us - "15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" We all have a sin nature that we are born with and no matter how "good and moral" we desire to be, we have to be honest with ourselves, "...I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." "Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me." "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Left to ourselves, no matter how hard we try, we can only muster up so much will and strength to control our emotions and resist temptation - it is clear that we all need the working of the Holy Spirit to first and foremost bring us unto salvation through and in Jesus Christ as we repent and put our faith in the finished work of Jesus' death and resurrection,. Secondly, to allow Him to grow and mature in us His fruit that we might find true freedom in Jesus and love others as He loves us.

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”   Key Points: • What does “In Him was life” mean?   We have learned to identify living and non-living things in various ways, either from science teachers, parents pointing living and non-living things out in nature, or we have had a pet that we loved and cared for that has died. We have learned the basic elements to sustain life just by being a living being ourselves - we are born from the same species, we grow out of clothing as we grow, our body needs food and nourishment, we need rest and sleep, we continue to develop in all aspects of life. We also know that there is a difference between a dead person and a living one - But, did you know that there is also a spiritually dead person and a spiritually alive person? Is there a way we can tell the difference?   • What does “In Him was life” mean if we are already living? Here are four important things the bible teaches us that can help us answer this question. 1.      Apart from Jesus we are spiritually dead. John 15:5 2.      We can only receive spiritual life from Jesus with a spiritual birth. Colossians 2:13 3.      God adopts us into His family. Ephesians 1:5 4.      We simply need to put our trust in Jesus.  John 3:16   1.      Apart from Jesus we are spiritually dead.  We read in Genesis 3:6-19, that before Adam sinned, there was no death. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, death entered the world causing a devastating effect on all living things. God’s command came with the warning that disobedience would result in death: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16,17 When we read the phrase, "you will certainly die..." it literally means, “dying you shall die," which means a continuous state of death. From the moment Adam disobeyed God, separation between God and humans became a reality. Before this act, God and His newly created humans enjoyed fellowship amidst God's beautiful creation - with one act of disobedience that was gone and so began a spiritual death which continues throughout life gradually degrading one’s entire being, mind and body, until physical death. The relational connection with God died too, and since than man has been trying to find their way in this world without God. We can see this separation from God as we see Adam and Eve hiding from God in the garden Genesis 3:8. We know when something is dead, it is lifeless, still, withered, and may even smell badly. Something that is dead cannot respond to any sort of stimuli like, light, sound, temperature, touch, etc. Timothy Keller says it best, “Dead people don’t see things, dead people don’t hear things, dead people don’t notice things, dead people don’t know they are dead.” Likewise, with a person who is spiritually dead. We may feel like we are "spiritual" people or that spirituality is important to them - but the difference in being spiritual and being spiritually alive is very different. Colossians 2:13 tells us “And you, who were dead in your trespasses . . . God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.” Romans 5:12 says this, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned..." Spiritually dead people may know about Jesus, even respect and appreciate Jesus, but their hearts are not moved by Jesus, their minds are not captivated by Him, because they cannot see Jesus.   2.      We can only receive spiritual life from Jesus with a spiritual birth. Colossians 2:13 Being spiritually dead has caused us to be unable to understand and personally know God or His Word. 1 Corinthians 2:14. It is only by the Holy Spirit and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can come to Him. John 6:44. We also read in Romans 8: 7-8 that our natural minds will, always be hostile to God, never obey God’s laws, and we never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. God makes us alive through the working of the Holy Spirit and because of the finished word of Jesus death and resurrection on the cross Ephesians 2:5, Titus 3:5. It is truly as though we are being born a second time, as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3:3, 7. Having been made alive by God, we will never die – only enjoy all eternity with Him. 3.      God adopts us into His family. Ephesians 1:5 Now this might be confusing for some, as many have heard throughout their lives that we are all "God's children." But is that statement true for all humans? If we take the time to read what God's word says, the Bible makes it clear that all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible by God, Colossians 1:16, and that God so loves the world John 3:16, but it is also very clear that only those who are born again are children of God John 1:12, Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1-10. We become God's adopted children when we are born again spiritually and we receive a new spiritual life from from God. Like Pinocchio, he was “living” but he was not a real boy. Until we receive Christ as our Savior, we are only “sort of living.” Once we receive Christ as Savior, God gives us the Holy Spirit which becomes our source of spiritual life – and He opens our heart to Jesus, our minds to Jesus, and our eyes to Jesus.   John 1:4 “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Sadly, we read in John 1:9-11  that Jesus, “the true light,” came into the world that He created, yet that world did not recognize Him or receive Him.     Jesus is the true light,” He gives us sight to see what we could only mimic before. He shows us our need for Him and that He is the true and only way to salvation. Many people want to believe that they are inherently good – but the Bible clearly shows that we are not.  We learn to model behaviors. We know the “Golden Rule” of treating others as how you wish to be treated. Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. We are not born good, but only adopt good behaviors because we wish for good behaviors towards us. Good behavior is much different than being born again and being “alive in Christ.” “Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”  1 Corinthians 15:22   4.      We simply need to put our trust in Jesus.  John 3:16 There is a beautiful old hymn that points to just how good it is to trust in Jesus... ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!” Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me’ Neath the healing, cleansing flood! Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end. (song written by Louisa M. R. Stead.)